Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, says Africa will miss his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari.
Akufo-Addo said this in his address as Chairman of the public presentation and launch of two biographies written about Buhari’s life and tenure as President.
The two books, State of Repair: How Muhammadu Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria for Good, by Antony Goldman, and The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, by Senator Abu Ibrahim, were reviewed by the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof Abubakar Abba.
In his opening remarks, President Akufo-Addo eulogised Buhari for providing a model leadership for Nigeria and other regional and international organisations, adding that he tamed the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.
He said “As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Buhari, we will miss you. West Africa, Africa, and indeed, the world will miss your leadership, the leadership of a military ruler, turned consummate democrat, who’s extremely solicitous of Nigerian and African interests and who sought principles in all decisions he took.
Glancing back on the President’s activities in the past eight years, Akufo-Addo said “From what I have read and know, the life of Muhammadu Buhari has been truly an amazing story.
“The works the President Buhari has done in helping to diversify Nigerian agriculture and thereby enhancing significantly agricultural productivity, reviving the economy and ensuring consistently fast rates of growth.
“These developments, for me, have vindicated the choice of Nigerians, which I believe enabled continuity in office for the APC, through President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The Ghanaian President explained that Buhari’s “tentacles extended beyond Nigeria” as he also served as the chairperson of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS, Gulf of Guinea Commission, and ECOWAS chairman in the coordination of the fight against Covid-19.
